£150 million for businesses to build skilled workforce

Businesses across the country can now bid for a share of a £150 million pot to create the training schemes they need to grow their companies, Skills Minister Matthew Hancock announced today.

The fund is the second round of the Employer Ownership Pilot (EOP) which is already giving nearly £70 million to companies including Nissan, Whitbread and GE Aviation, with projects ranging from extending skills training to local suppliers, to doubling the number of female apprentices.

Government investment in EOP for rounds one and two now totals £250 million.

Matthew Hancock said: “For Britain to compete we need as a nation to deliver the skills employers need. This is a unique opportunity for companies across all industries to secure their futures by addressing their skills needs now…..